Manchester United v Liverpool predictions: More home discomfort for Red Devils

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Liverpool -1 goal on handicap
1pt 31-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

Team news

Manchester United
Victor Lindelof and Brandon Williams are out while Anthony Martial is a doubt. New signing Casemiro is ineligible.

Liverpool
Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are sidelined but Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino should return. Darwin Nunez is suspended.

Match preview

Manchester United and Liverpool are still searching for their first win of the new Premier League campaign but, while there may be substance behind some of Jurgen Klopp's excuses, there appears to be no short-term fix for Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Despite starting their season with score draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace, Liverpool make the short trip along the M62 as odds-on favourites to get off the mark at the third time of asking.

Klopp's claims that the pitch was too dry for his stars at Craven Cottage may be extreme and it's also unlikely that his team were cursed by a witch before their clash with Palace, but their slow start may well have been caused by an abnormal number of first-team injuries.

The Reds remain without Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Diogo Jota and Ibrahima Konate while Joel Matip missed last Monday's 1-1 draw with Palace and Jordan Henderson was fit enough only for the bench.

A three-match suspension for new striker Darwin Nunez, sent off against Palace, is another hurdle to overcome but, even considering the long list of absentees, Liverpool still look better prepared than their underachieving opponents.

Ten Hag could have barely envisaged a more catastrophic start to his reign at United as a 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton on the opening weekend was swiftly followed by a 4-0 hiding at Brentford.

The beleaguered Red Devils had conceded all four goals by half-time against the Bees and defensive flaws persist as club captain Harry Maguire struggles for form and £50m summer arrival Lisandro Martinez has failed to hit the ground running.

The shock signing of Real Madrid holding midfielder Casemiro may soon give Ten Hag's defence some much-needed protection but the Brazilian is ineligible for Monday's fixture, meaning Liverpool should believe they can make hay.

Klopp's crew put nine goals past United without reply last season, winning 5-0 at Old Trafford, and Roberto Firmino's anticipated return should compensate for the absences of Nunez and Jota.

Firmino can form the link between livewires Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah and, although squad depth may be a problem for the Reds at present, there is enough quality in their starting line-up to take advantage of a United side bereft of confidence.

Brighton and Brentford racked up 28 shots between them against Ten Hag's men and allowing Liverpool a similar amount of chances could prove extremely costly.

There are opportunities to get in behind Liverpool's high backline but Cristiano Ronaldo has cut a lonely figure up front and continues to look isolated in United's favoured 4-2-3-1 system.

An early goal for Liverpool may soon see the home crowd get restless and a whirl of negativity surrounding Old Trafford would only benefit the visitors.

Last season United lost both Premier League meetings with Manchester City and Liverpool by at least two goals and little has happened in early parts of this season to suggest they will be more competitive against the top clubs.

Given the visitor's superiority, the value bet could be to back Liverpool -1 on the handicap.

The Merseysiders will need to win the game by at least two goals for the bet to win but they are more than capable in that regard given eight of their 13 away league successes last season came by two or more goals.

Key stat

Manchester United have lost seven of their last ten Premier League games.

Inside info

Manchester United

Penalty taker Cristiano Ronaldo
Assist ace Christian Eriksen
Set-piece aerial threat Harry Maguire
Card magnet Bruno Fernandes

Liverpool

Penalty taker Mohamed Salah
Assist ace Trent Alexander-Arnold
Set-piece aerial threat Virgil van Dijk
Card magnet Fabinho

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